Ontario Liberal leadership candidate and former Windsor West MPP Sandra Pupatello wants to restore a good working relationship with teachers.

Bill 115, which has taken away negotiating powers from the teachers' union, has damaged the tie between the government and its educators.

Various other labour groups are fighting back with the threat of strike action. There have been demonstrations across the province and one is planned for when the new Liberal leader is selected in Toronto in January.

Pupatello said one of her key issues will be repairing the broken relationship between the government and its teachers if she's appointed head of the Liberal Party.

"The best predictor of future behaviour is my past behaviour, so I always had a good relationship as minister of education and I expect I'm going to have that again," she said.

Pupatello said she's pleased with where she stands, compared to the other five candidates. Based on the number of party memberships sold, she's in the middle of the pack — a good position heading to the convention.